Galway Atlantaquaria is delighted with the first discovery of a very rare white skate (Rostroraja alba ) egg case by Sandlarks, Clean Coasts volunteers who were cleaning the shoreline of marine litter in Furbo, Co Galway.
“We believe this discovery is really amazing, as we have very little records of these egg cases along our shore," said Garry Kendellen of Galway Atlantaquaria. "This is why we encourage everyone to become ocean stewards of the shore and get involved in campaigns like Explore Your Shore from the national biodiversity data centre, and Clean Coasts.”
White skate (R. alba ) is included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as “Endangered” globally and “Critically Endangered” in the north-east Atlantic.
This is a large, long-lived coastal, shelf and upper slope species with a low reproductive rate. Its age and very large size at maturity means that all size classes are vulnerable to capture in demersal fisheries. Mortality of the large juveniles is high for many years before they reach maturity. Recovery of populations will be extremely slow even if fishing pressures are lifted.
The key threats to this species include mortality due to by-catch in commercial fisheries, targeted fishing (such as sport angling and possibly obtaining specimens for aquaria ), and habitat deterioration (secondary threat ).
The egg case is considered a very important discovery, as Galway Bay also seems to be a host to other critically endangered skate egg cases including the flapper skate (Dipturus intermedia ).
The first egg cases discovered in 2025 were those of the flapper skate, found by Dr Róisín Nash from ATU Galway and Michael Bell of Nature Learn in separate incidents in March.
There is no doubt that this discovery will excite academics and researchers, as well as members of the public as they will be encouraged to explore the shore and learn more about the wonderful discoveries that can be found all along our coasts.
“We found the distinctive large, tough leathery pouch of the white skate egg case during a beach clean between Furbo and Spideal," Amelia Walker of Sandlarks said of the latest discovery. "We have previously discovered flapper egg cases in the area before, but this was the first example of the critically endangered white skate that we have come across.
"As Clean Coasts volunteers, it is always good practice to explore, discover and remove marine litter from our shores."
